Tom Simpson (musician)

Tom Simpson
Tom Simpson at Rock City Nottingham, England in 2006
Background information
Born	(1972-01-07) 7 January 1972 (age 45)
Origin	Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
Genres	Alternative rock, power pop, indie rock, electronic, house
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Piano, Turntables, sampler, Electronic keyboard, synthesizer
Years active	1997-present
Labels	Fiction/Interscope
Associated acts	Snow Patrol

Tom Simpson (born 7 January 1972) is a Scottish DJ and musician, best known as the former keyboardist of the alternative rock band Snow Patrol. Having been with Snow Patrol as a touring member since 1996, he became a permanent one in 2005. In August 2013, he quit the band, citing his desire to do his own thing.

Tom Simpson attended Monifieth High School in Angus, Scotland. He went to the art school in the University of Dundee, the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, and has a degree in drawing and painting.

He had no musical leanings as a youngster, and always had aspirations of being a scratch/mix DJ. He started deejaying when he was about 17, and used to run a few clubs in Dundee, in whose university Gary Lightbody studied at the time. Lightbody used to visit one of these clubs, and met Simpson one day, and the two ended up becoming friends. Simpson, at the time did not know Lightbody was in a band. However, one day, Lightbody invited him to the university to watch Snow Patrol (his band) play a concert. Simpson liked the band's show, and felt they had "potential" and "a lot of soul". Lightbody was relieved, and said that the band would like him to do synthesizers and turn table effects for their first album Songs for Polarbears. He did, and later got invited to go on tour with the band. He felt happy at the opportunity, as he was finding himself at "crossroads" in his own life. Since, he has been with Snow Patrol.

Simpson started to play keyboards in his late 20s, and in around 2006, finally took lessons in classical piano at the insistence of a friend. He finds the lessons interesting and challenging. He has said that after the years he was with Snow Patrol, he realized that he had become a musician, despite having no intentions to become so. He was declared an official member of the band when bassist Paul Wilson was recruited into the band, after founder Mark McClelland was fired. As a musician, Simpson plays piano, keyboards, a monitor mixer, and professional instrumental mixing of effects (recording music and application in live shows). On 15 August 2013, during a gig in Belfast, Gary Lightbody announced that Simpson had decided to quit the band and that this would be his final show.